, 1887-08-03
HAzlNa AT WEST POINT.
Methods by which tho "Y~earlings" Make
Life Miserable for the "PIebes."

Methods by Which tho "Yearlings" Make
Life Miserable for the 'Plebes."
The yearlings have numerous ways of
amusing themselves with the plebes. One
of their favorite tricks is to put a shoe on
the floor and make three or -four plebes
get on their hands and knees around it,
barking and scratching as if they were
killing a rat. Splitting out candles is an
other amusement. A lighted candle is
put on the ground, and a row of plebes,
stationed a short distance off, endeavor to
spit it out. Another thing considered
very funny by the yearlings is to make a
plebe spoon "A pillow, that is, hug and
kiss it, and talk all sorts of love nonsense
to it, while the yearlings stand around
and almost split their idesw with laughter.
The plebes are not allowed to smile while
doing these ridiculous things. If they do
they are at one informed that these
things are not being done for their muse
ment, and that they must ''stop that
smiling. If the poor fellows don't man
age to check their mirth they are pun
ished until they no longer feel the least
inclination to smile.
The yearlings have various methods of
furnishing unruly plebes. The ''sitting
up exercises and double time" are CON
sidered very good for bringing a refrac-
tory plebe to his senses. and are freely
used for tiut purpose.
Tn ''bayonrt chair" is an instrument
Of torture occasionally resorted to. This
chair, upon which the unwilling plebe
takes his seat, is nothing more nor less
h the sharp end of a bayonet, which is
placed upright On the floor, point up. l
have been punished this way myself, and
my experience goes to show that it is a
big strain OF a fellows legs to keep from
getting hurt. In fact, it is Just like being
seated in a chair without touching the
chair. Scarcely less comfortable than
this latter method of punishment is spin
ming on a bowl, which is done as follows;
A bowl being turned upside down, the
plebe is made to take his seat in the small
ring which encircles its bottom, and bal
ance himself by locking his arms under
his legs, thus lifting his feet off the floor.
His tormentors then take him by the back
of the neck and spin hlm round and
round until he loses his balance and falls
off.
The question why do the fourth class
men submit to these outrages ?" is often
asked, and it is easily answered. They
submit through fear of the reporting
power held by the cadet officers. A great
majority of the boys, on entering the
United States military academy, are en-
tirely ignorant of military duties, and
even those who rave attended other mill
tary schools find it impossible to get along
for the first three or four months without
numerous accidental violations of some of
the thousands of minute rules and regu-
Iatiuns which constitute West Point dis
.ttlfaA If 4, ,1nI. H.. il
TO resist the tyranny and cruelty of the
upper class men, who would constitute
themselves his masters, he is not only re-
ported for all the mistakes which he NAV
accidentally make, but the cadet officers
lay all sorts of traps for him and get him
into troubles which will soon roll his col
umns of dement's up to an alarming
height. Any cadet that gets 1876 dement's
between January and June is dismissed,
and if the cadet officers SO choose they
can always give a plebe reports enough
TO get more than that number.
On the other hand, if a plebe is obedi-
ent and faithfully serves his masters, the
cadet officers will not only overlook a
great many of his mistakes, but will even
condescend occasionally to give him some
aluable advice on how to avoid getting
dement's.
There is but one way in which hazing
can be broken up at West Point, and that
way is to put all the cadet officers on
honor to report all cases of hazing that
may come to their knowledge. 1t is i'm
possible to do any hazing without the
knowledge and consent of these officers,
whose duty it is to report all violations of
the academic regulations, hazing included,
but who, instead of trying to suppress this
evil, encourage it and shield the wrong
doors; but if these officers were on honor
to report they would certainly do SO, for
a violation of honor is considered by West
Point cadets the most ignoble crime that
man can be guilty of.-Ex-Cadet in New
Orleans Times-Democrat.